Korean Dictionary
How to say "Heavy Rain" in Korean
“Heavy Rain” in Korean is 폭우 (pronounced "pokwu").
폭우
pokwu
Usage & Context
Describes intense rainfall with significant precipitation. Heavy rain can cause flooding and traffic disruptions in Korea. Weather alerts are issued for heavy rain.
Example Sentence
폭우 경보가 발령되었어요.
A heavy rain warning has been issued.
How to use 폭우 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Heavy Rain” is 폭우, romanized as pokwu.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 폭우.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'pohg-oo' — technically two syllables, but they slur together. 'Pohg' rhymes with 'pog' (not 'pug'), and the 'oo' is short, like the 'oo' in 'book'.
More Example Sentences
explaining why you're late
폭우 때문에 지하철이 지연됐어요.
The subway was delayed because of heavy rain.
reacting to local news
어젯밤 폭우로 강남이 또 침수됐대요.
I heard Gangnam flooded again because of last night's heavy rain.
describing a Korean rainy-day tradition
폭우가 쏟아지는 날엔 부침개 생각이 나요.
On days when heavy rain is pouring down, I crave Korean pancakes.
Cultural Context
폭우 dominates Korean news every summer during 장마 (monsoon season, late June to mid-July), and record-breaking downpours have repeatedly flooded Seoul's Gangnam district because of aging drainage. Korean weather culture has an immediate food reflex for heavy rain: 부침개 (savory pancakes) and 막걸리, reportedly because the sizzle of oil mimics the sound of rain on the roof. News channels use the stronger 집중호우 (concentrated downpour) for dangerous, localized bursts, while 폭우 is the everyday term.
Editorial note
We review entries like 폭우 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
폭우가 쏟아져요.
Heavy rain is pouring down.
폭우 경보가 발령됐어요.
A heavy rain warning has been issued.
폭우 피해
Heavy rain damage
Related Expressions
장마
jangma
monsoon season
집중호우
jipjung-hou
localized torrential rain
소나기
sonagi
sudden shower
가뭄
gamum
drought (antonym)
More Weather Words
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